Unlike the swimmers around him who rely on long strokes of their arms, Gharti powers through his legs and torso because he does not have arms. The 21-year-old is training with three other disabled swimmers who will represent Nepal in the Asian Para Games in Japan in October, chasing medals despite limited resources in the Himalayan country."It is not my hope, it is my target," Gharti told AFP after finishing a gruelling session. "Just for a medal, I am giving everything... every possible thing."A decade ago an electrocution accident near a hydroelectric project in his native Baglung district in western Nepal changed his life forever, costing him both arms.The tragedy that could have ended his ambitions instead helped forge his extraordinary determination.What began as an experiment with competitive swimming in 2020 soon became a passion and a career pathway."I love everything about swimming, whether competitive or just for enjoying," he said.At the hostel where he lives in Kathmandu a row of medals hangs above his bed, proof of a remarkable journey.
Nepalese swimmer Harka Man Gharti is in training for the Asian Games © Prakash MATHEMA / AFP
During training he concentrates on his technique and body position in the water. On race days a different instinct takes over."I don't really think about the techniques or my body alignment," he said. "I just go hard. I just push fast and I just want to push power. That's it. I just think about speed and for speed I just kick harder and harder."Leg powerAt last year's Para Swimming World Series in Japan, Gharti's times met the minimum qualifying standards for the Asian Para Games, earning him a chance to compete on one of the biggest sporting stages.He will participate in the S5 classification, including the 50-metre freestyle.China's Guo Jincheng holds the men's 50m freestyle record at 29.33 seconds in the category.Sports facilities in Nepal are modest by international standards.
